Saturday, 7 July 2012

WORLD'S TOP 20 FIELDERS

best in the business?

Apropos of Eion Morgan dropping Michael Clarke at backward point at Chester-le-Street on 9 not out…

No, scratch that. Apropos of posh scarecrow, Nicholas Verity Knight, asserting of the hurling-influenced Irish hand-speed-through-the-hitting-area merchant, “he doesn’t drop many” – when in fact any fool know he’s dropped several catches of late (my ten penneth, for what it’s worth, say it’s probably connected to footwork, not having a solid base, an area of concern in the twist-cum-limbo of his batting, and is definitely exacerbated by his trying-to-exude-emotional-changelessness) – I thought I’d throw together a quick list of great fielders.The list isn’t comprehensive – for that to be the case I’d have to be an active cricket watcher when, in fact, I’m quite passive, mainly because I don’t have Sky at home, other than on my computer, which is an old bitch prone to overheating and consequently isn’t keen on me watching SkyGo. Yeah? Also, I can’t get much else done when I’m watching that. So, that’s mainly why I’m not watching Mashonaland Matriarchs play the Bulawayo Bullies or scouring Aussie message boards to see whether Shane Doolan of Perth Whizz or Wayne McGraw of Toowoomba Dags is the better cover-point.

The things I’ve considered are: how often the ball goes smack bang in the centre of their hands; the ‘Bejesus factor’ (batsmen thinking ‘there’s no way I’m running to him’ when in fact there’s a leisurely two); wingspan and agility, if ring men; whether he’s got a decent ‘Broadwater’, if an outfielder; but mainly, the sheer coincidence of whether I happen to have stumbled across them in action.

The above are considered in a loose ratio of 2:4:3:2:9. Science.

20: IMRAN NAZIR Possible tokenism here – the likes of David Miller, Johnny Bairstow and Dwayne Bravo don’t get in, not to mention veterans like Collingwood, Herschelle and ‘Roy’ Symonds – but Nazir was one of the few Pakistani fielders who had an aura.

19: IAN BELL Recently dropped three (or maybe two) slip catches in a day at Edgbaston, but regularly hangs on to barely credible grabs at short leg, and often makes the difficult appear ridiculously easy.

VK1 -- attitude

18: VIRAT KOHLI

Brings attitude. And skill. The third member of India’s T20 inner circle.

17: ROSS TAYLOR The highest compliment he can be given is that the Kiwis do not miss Stephen Fleming at slip.

16: MICHAEL CLARKE Nobody has ever fielded further from the bat at backward point and still been able to save the single. As ‘Pup’ he had an absolute longbow of an arm but back troubles and captaincy have now pushed him into the cordon, where he is equally brilliant. Possible nostalgia pick, but deserves it.

15: STEVE SMITH Unfairly derided because of (a) Australian selectorial idiocy, picking him either as a Test number 6 or frontline leggie, and (b) the ‘availability heuristic’ of his non-golden boy looks. Exceptional fielder.

14: RICKY CLARKE

Broke the world record last year with seven outfield catches in an innings and is widely considered the best grabber on the county circuit.

Pollard catches Patel, 2010

13: KEIRON POLLARD ‘Always have your tallest fielder on the fence’ says the ancient cricketing lore, and this once cost Notts a T20 semi-final, as Pollard’s hang-time and span saw him pluck an awesome, game-turning catch. Also does well in the circle for a big man…Presence.

11: ANGELO MATTHEWSAnnounced himself as a cricketer with a stunning non-catch at Trent Bridge in the 2009 World T20 and has probably usurped Tillekeratne Dilshan as his country’s best fielder.

10: DAVID WARNER Not 100% reliable hanging on to the lacerated cuts, but super-mobile in the deep with an unparalleled ability to throw accurately off the wrong foot.

Jimmy snaffles on on the boundary

09: JAMES ANDERSON

Arguably the greatest quick-bowling all-round fieldsman of the all time, Anderson can prowl in the ring, cover the fence or take reflex catches at slip from spin or pace with equal facility.

08: RAVENDRA JADEJAWith Kohli, part of the Indian nouvelle vague, Jadeja’s work off his own bowling is staggering. Fields at backward point with the insouciance of the Pink Panther.

07: SURESH RAINA Brilliant in gully, saving one, or out in the deep, he always looks like he’s enjoying it, which helps.

06: STEVEN CROFTA jet-heeled ferret. Just check out this catch, like a goalie going to his left and saving with his right hand. Natural heir to Colly. Say no more.

05: A.B. DE VILLIERSCatches pigeons in the slips, sensational at backward point, can keep wicket.

04: RICKY PONTINGStill mobile, still blessed with the anticipation and awareness of a clairvoyant cobra, still the most accurate at throwing down the stumps, incredible at silly point, almost as much of a genius at second slip, his urchin face and tatty cap only added to the anti-glamour ‘here to do f**king business’ vibe.

Jonty's heir

03: SYBRAND ENGELBRECHT

Little-known Cape Cobras bits-and-pieces merchant who shone in the 2010 CLT20. The natural heir to Colin Bland and Jonty Rhodes, but deficiencies in his other departments – plus the (possibly archaic) rule preventing special teams in T20 – might deprive the wider world of his skills.

02: FAF DU PLESSIS In any other era, he would be the best, no question. The fact that he ousts ABdV speaks for itself. Phenomenal off the quicks at point, even better when moving round to the drive positions off spinners, nobody dives and gets to their feet quicker than Faf.

01: MARTIN GUPTILL I have never seen a better all-round fielding display than the one he gave in the last World Cup against South Africa. It’s almost true to say it won them the game. Vettori was so grateful he was moved to namecheck him in the Stand In Front of Sponsor’s Livery interview. Tweet